No matter how few films you’ve seen, you’re sure to have soaked in some version of LA on the big screen. La La Land’s dizzying masterpiece of dreams, David Lynch’s hallucinatory Mulholland Drive, the distant City of Angels in Blade Runner. Hollywood’s the home of cinema, and there’s a reason it’s inspired such monumental tales.
The neighbourhoods that make up the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles are distinct and charming in their own way. Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, for example, is regularly named one of the coolest streets in the US. This mile-long strip is lined with chic boutiques, curated homeware shops, and a thriving food scene. Visit on the first Friday of the month for their food truck event and sample all sorts of delicious culinary inventions.
For the true essence of SoCal, there’s no place like Santa Monica. Framed by the hills on one side and the glittering coast on the other, Santa Monica is a city in its own right. Head to Palisades Park for classic California, check out the famed Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, or pick up a pair of shades on the pier and spend the day beachside.
Malibu is synonymous with all things sunny. This little haven of a beach city stretches along the coast beneath the Santa Monica Mountains, just 30 miles west of LA. Home to Hollywood celebs, surfer chic, and so much more; laze on some of the world’s most extraordinary beaches, trek to wondrous waterfalls, and kick back at waterfront restaurants.